Forsaken Daughter Pampered by Top Hier

15:19 Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Flashes of this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

The Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe with Olivia.

Not one text. Not one call.

Forgotten? Not a chance.

She and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

That part didn’t sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign the disownment

papers.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Stephanie shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was worth celebrating.”

Ever since she left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

Before she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

His heartbeat was right there under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

His voice dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

Her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

The Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She had no reason to run anymore.

Sebastian held her tighter, like she might disappear if he let go.

“Sorry, Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his chest.

He didn’t answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

She had nothing to be sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and right.

He barely had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

By the time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes had passed.

Jennifer’s eyes zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

“Hold up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

“Sicily Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

That diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

Auctioned for over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was just wearing it?

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15:19 Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

afford something like that even if they sold

meant… It could only

bome from him.

on Jennifer’s face and raised a brow.

so fast it was almost comical.

Of

still here?”

for a second before it clicked. “Oh–yeah. Still waiting.”

heard that, her smile

***

、 87%L

+5

walked into her office, Catlin was already

now, the cracks were showing. Hearing the door open, she tried to pull herself together, plastering on a

waiting forever. Your assistant called you three times, but

her voice–along with

to even reach Stephanie these days, Catlin had resorted to using half the phones

Cold–blooded? Heartless? Catlin had never met a

was back on her feet, she planned to have a long chat with the

answers. What kind of parenting turned out a

onto the desk, zero interest

couldn’t imagine why Catlin

hit the necklace she was wearing, sending bright flecks of light dancing across

impossible to miss. Her eyes locked onto

Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

They were all off in

one text. Not

a

same birthday–they

why,

papers.

voice

head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday

left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his

there under

usual. “Still thinking about running off

could stop herself, the tears

map. She had no reason

like she might disappear if he

Her arms wrapped around his waist,

smoothed a hand over her

he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and

to look her way–that’s how the

time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes

zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

hell did you get that?

Stephanie said

dropped. “Are you

wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

royals fighting over it–and Stephanie

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